Bailw ay-chair



UNITED STATES PATEN T nnion.

JOHN W'. GOULD, OF ELMIRA, NEW YORK.

RAILWAY-CHAIR.

Specication of Letters Patent No. 22,797, dated February 1, 1859. Y

of one of the railway-chairs and the adja- I cent ends of two rails united thereby; Fig. 2, a section of the chair in the plane indi cated by the line a2 ai, Fig. l, exhibiting the mode of inserting the lockavedge, F ig. 3, a corresponding section, showing the chair completely arranged for use; Fig. Il, a plan of the lock-wedge detached. l

Like letters designate corresponding parts in all the figures. l

My improved railway chair is applicable either as a chair proper, resting on the crosstie asshown in the drawings; or as a splice uniting the ends ot the rails, be

.tween the cross-ties or sleepers; in which case the lock-wedge C, acts as a fishpiece.

The chair-seat B, is made substantially of the form exhibited in the drawings, so that the bottom and inner side of each rail will lit accurately therein; and between its outer side and the rails there will be a doubly-rounded space, sufficient to receive the lock-wedge C, and a key D. Outward from, and just above the outer flange ot' the rails, is also a notch cl, in the chairseat, as shown, for the reception of the lower edge a, of the lock-wedge. This edge forms the back of a notch or recessin the lock-wedge, leaving, at the ends, abrupt. shoulders b, ZJ, that, when the lock-wedge is entirely inserted, embrace the chair-seat B, and thereby prevent the removal or accidental detachment of the lock-wedge, which is inserted edge-wise, as indicated in Fig. 2, and has a concavo-convex shape, in

cross section, the convex side fitting into the hollow of the rails, as seen in Fig. 3. The concave side, together with the hollow j', in the chair-seat, oiier a rounded aperture, between, into which a key D, is finally driven, for completely tightening the rails in the chair. lBut should this key work loose, or out of its place, still the lockwedge, (which securely remains in place, under all circumstances,) would hold the rails safely, since the back (7, of its upper edge, bears irnily against the shoulder h,

of the chair-seat.

The lock-wedge extends a considerable length along the sides of the rails, and serves to give a uniformity of spring to the entire length of the rails, a result very desirable to be attained. At the same time, the ends are sloped downward below the top of the rails, so as not to allow the carwheels to strike them.

It' the lock-wedge is not raised flush with the tops of the rails, although it does not take the tread of the wheels, yet its use and utility in all other respects, remain as above set forth.

The lock-wedge can only be removed by raising it edgewise upward out of the chair seat.

I am aware that side pieces or rails have been applied at the joints of the rails, to take the tread of the car-wheels; therefore I do not claim that device.

That I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The selfsecuring lock-wedge C, arranged in combination with the rails A, A, chair-seat B, and key D, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein specified.

JOHN W. GOULD.

I/Vitnesses:

GEO. L. Davis, Gr. WV. BABCOGK, JOHN H. BRUEN. 

